This past week I received the following text messages, each from a different person. Do you see a theme? “Prayer request: feeling pretty overwhelmed this week with everything going on, having a hard time managing stress.” “I’m at urgent care now. Been having tightness/pain/gas build-up(?) on the left side of my chest on and offContinue reading “We long for peace in a fraught world – Advent Peace, Preview”
Tag Archives: anxiety
How to put our hope in the right things – Advent Hope, Part 3
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 30 years who now works in international fair trade. A couple years ago, I reached a direction-changing point in my ministry career. Some things that I had worked very hard on for a long time, and that I hadContinue reading “How to put our hope in the right things – Advent Hope, Part 3”
When the great king David falls apart – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 3
Have you ever had the unsettling experience of having someone you look up to fall apart? Maybe it is a parent, grandparent or mentor, and they behave in a way that calls into question everything you respected about them. In the saga of David’s dysfunctional family, it is David who falls apart. In the previousContinue reading “When the great king David falls apart – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 3”
Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5
As a pastor for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to interacted with people in spiritual panics, some funny, some sad, some tragic. People come to me as their pastor, or I’ve found out about their situation, and they just don’t know what to do. They feel that God’s not answering them. They’re praying. They’reContinue reading “Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5”
Check out the new podcast some friends and I started: The Unapologetic Journey
So a couple guys from church and I started a podcast! It’s called The Unapologetic Journey, and here’s what it is about: “The Unapologetic Journey is about living a life that is authentic to who God made us to be. Through their discussions and interviews, hosts Dusty Zook, Joel Leicy, and Joel Kime raise awarenessContinue reading “Check out the new podcast some friends and I started: The Unapologetic Journey”
The musical therapist who treated spiritual oppression – 1st Samuel 16, Part 4
Does God control evil spirits and sends them to torment people? In the previous post which mentioned 1 Samuel 16 verse 14, we learned that “Saul had an evil spirit from the Lord that tormented him.” That’s not how I think about God! Does God send demons to do his bidding? That’s what Satan isContinue reading “The musical therapist who treated spiritual oppression – 1st Samuel 16, Part 4”
When life boxes you in – 1st Samuel 11 & 12, Part 1
I recently listened to a podcast about ocean temperatures. Ocean temperatures are rising. They have been rising for many years. But in 2023, they rose faster than normal. Rising ocean temperatures are concerning. Fast rising ocean temperatures are really concerning. This is not a post about the environment, though sometime I should write about caringContinue reading “When life boxes you in – 1st Samuel 11 & 12, Part 1”
The state of fear in America – 1st Samuel 11-12, Preview
What keeps you up at night? Ever experience the syndrome where you cannot turn your mind off because you’re thinking about stuff? I fall asleep rather easily, but if I wake up in the middle of night, usually to use the restroom, anxious thoughts can creep in my mind, and it can be so difficultContinue reading “The state of fear in America – 1st Samuel 11-12, Preview”
Are you struggling with fear? – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Part 2
Are things in our world getting worse? While politicians boldly declare that crime is on the rise, an FBI report says the opposite: “Not only has violent crime fallen 23% from 2002 to 2022, but also in the past year alone murders fell 6% and violent crime declined 2% overall.” (Source: Time) It can be difficultContinue reading “Are you struggling with fear? – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Part 2”
Confidence in the middle of pain – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 5
This week we’ve studied the parallel structure of Psalm 30. We’ve found matching points here, here, and here, and now we are left with verse 6, for which there is no match. It is the center of the structure. Because it doesn’t have a match, that means it is David’s most important point. What does heContinue reading “Confidence in the middle of pain – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 